CHRISTCHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 138, 5 March 1908, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH.

■ -/ March 3. ■ Cricket in Canterbury has/ been weakened during the last .year or two by the removal .of several .prominent •players, and tho province, lvill sustain a further loss by tho departure of J.- jf.' Bennett,\ who .leaves for England at;an; early date. ..Few; cricketers hava .worked 'aV hard in provincial matchc-s as- Bennett, wh'oso abilities as an untiring and offectivo b6*wler are- widely known. The coramittob of''the' Canterbury'.Cricket Association ?has - decided to 'recognise .Bennett's sorvices'to tho" province by tendering him a bonefit matctfi . The fixture will bo the firstgrade championship match; West Christchurch. v. - Sydenham, beginning at Hagley Park nest' Saturday, and arrangements ■ will probably for tho game to bo plaj'ed out. ■ 1 ■* '

Athletic -Union* Matters. --■ -- . y Tho president of tho.New Zealand Athletic Union (Mi - . G: -W., Woods) arrived from tho north oA Monday after attending tho annual meeting of the Centre delegates last week in Now.; Plymouth. .. Spoaking to a: " Press " reporter; 'Mr., Woods said • a.: proposal mado by tho North' Canterbury Centre that'all tho members of tho executive should bo situated in one.convenient contre was lost. -Tho present/, system? of government was one of tho most - perfect: yet evolved,, as -.the- Union by having-members of tho cxccutivo located m differont oontres Vwas-fre-e-. from that parochial jealousy-.' which .' was frequently ■ manifested when there : was„a • one-centre oxccutivo, as in:.the- cases - ■ Boxing Association, Rugby Union,: and.other:organisations. . Tho Union;- left- as. much as. possible -to . the -)oniy'-: important' business for tho. executive.. ! As. to: tho feeling in tlio North.lsland.towards thtf Union. Mr. Woods said that somo time ago it was . reported that, the attitude of the North Island clubs was: antagonistic. ... So far from this - being ,tho case, his observations led.' him to the conclusion, that .thero was. a -most friendly and loyal. accepta-nco .of tho Union. This .was'jendenced'; by! the : fact'! ; ihat' there ivero contres m', every. part but Auckland, and a .centre would: shortly, bo formedithcro.